If you love a good waterfall hike, then put the Ribbon Falls hike in Kananaskis Country on your must do list. John and I chose to do it in late May - as many of Alberta's mountain hikes are still snowbound. It was a great choice from a couple of perspectives. First, it's a good warm-up to get in shape for harder hikes with more elevation gain. All told its about a 20.8 km return…
We are lucky in Alberta to have such a wide range of hiking opportunities available to us in Kananaskis Country. While the area that makes up Kananaskis Country is huge - covering a swath of land from the Sheep River Valley to parts of the Ghost Valley Wilderness, the Highwood Pass area, Bragg Creek and Highway 40 - Smith-Dorrien Road. The focus of this post is on easy Kananaskis hikes in Peter Lougheed, Bow Valley,…
Every spring and fall new products hit the shelves of outdoor stores. Some are completely reimagined products whereas others seemingly showcase the colours that are on trend - which from what I've seen this spring are in the peachy or "tea rose" colour category as SmartWool calls it. Spring is also the time new books are released. Two described below coincide nicely with hiking season and another is ideal for any national park lover. I've…
I have enjoyed exploring areas in Alberta this spring that are new to me - and as it turns out less well known and therefore less busy for hiking. As much as I love the workout and the views up Ha Ling Peak for instance, I prefer trails with far fewer people. Near the Highwood Junction area, there are a good handful of hikes that are all ideal in spring and fall when the mountains…
The Mount Lorette Ponds in Alberta's Bow Valley Provincial Park haven't always been in existence. At one point they were an oxbow (a u-shaped bend) on the Kananaskis River but were cut off when Highway 40 was upgraded. Instead of letting the ponds die, someone recognized their potential and tapped into a groundwater source that replenishes the ponds several times a year. Now they are a scenic spot for nature viewing, fishing, picnicking and even…
British mountaineer Sir Hugh Munro used the term “peak bagger” in the 1890s to describe climbers who set out to summit all of the highest peaks in Scotland. “Munro bagging,” which morphed into the term “Peak bagging,” later migrated to North America, where today it’s used by nature-lovers like author and conservationist Marlis Butcher, who proudly calls herself a “park bagger.” Butcher has led the way for outdoorsy folks who aim to visit all 48…
Let’s not beat around the alder bush: the East Coast of Canada is one of the best spots to be in the summertime! There are many great opportunities for hiking, biking, swimming, and paddling—especially in the province of New Brunswick. For those who love the outdoors, don’t miss out on these uniquely New Brunswick adventures. You’ll find several things to do within a couple of hours of Saint John. I grew up across the Bay…
I think many of us get into a routine when it comes to going to the mountains. For me that means heading to either Banff National Park, Kananaskis Country south of Highway 40 or the Bragg Creek area. However, I have been on the lookout for a new early season mountain hike and discovered Mount Burke - thanks once again to @mcc617 (Don McCready) on Instagram. He posted a photo on March 19th along the…
The Foran Grade and Windy Point hike is a great choice for anyone who lives in the Calgary area and is eager for a hike that delivers great mountain views starting early in the season. I wouldn't do this hike in the summer when there are more interesting choices, but I'd come back again in the fall to catch the vibrant colours. The effort to reward ratio on this hike is high. The Foran Grade…
The Horton Hill hike, just an hour's drive from Calgary in Kananaskis Country isn't going to be the kind of hike most people are looking for. There is no trailhead, signage, or even a formal trail, though there is the odd piece of fluorescent flagging tape around. But it is surprisingly easy to find your way to the top, if you have any sense of direction and you just head up. Horton Hill is the…